Gas detector



March 23, 1954 J. w. GRAY ET AL GAS DETECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 James W. Gray Thomas E Johnson I INVENTORS; gum min nay 3% Filed Feb. 25, 1952 March 23, 1954 J, w. GRAY ET AL GAS DETECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1952 Wn m mmm M s m e -W m 1 v as m M, T

w t Q N t March 23, 1954 Filed Feb. 25, 1952 J. w. GRAY ET AL 2,673,339

GAS DETECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 James W. Grby Mamas E Johnson Patented Mar. 23. 1954 GAS DETECTOR James W. Gray and Thomas F. Johnson, Petersburg, Ill.

Application February 25, 1952, Serial No. 273,266

3 Claims. (01. 340-237) having a cylinder which can be mounted adja: 7

cent to the accumulated spots of gas and means for periodically reciprocating a piston in the cylinder to take samples of the gas adjacent to the cylinder and to create a spark or other ignition device within the cylinder so that an explosive mixture of gas will produce an explosion operating a detecting circuit.

According to the present invention the reciprocating device for the cylinder comprises a storage battery and a motor and operating device enclosed in a gas-tight casing and mounted adjacent to the cylinder so that the operating device may be periodically energized by any suitable means such as a timer or clock so that periodic tests of gas are made and samples tested.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an improved testing device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a gas testing device in which all of the working parts are enclosed in gas-tight chambers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gas testing device having timing means for periodically energizing the gas testing device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a gas testing device which will automatically shut itself off after detecting an explosive quantity of gas.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a. gas testing device which will energize a signal circuit in response to an explosive quantity of gas.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a. perspective view of the gas detector with parts broken away to show the construction;

Figure 2 is a top plan view with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section-taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing the arrangement of parts; 7

Figure 4 isan enlarged cross-section of the signal switch actuating mechanism and taken substantially on a plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2; V

Figure 5 is a schematic wiring diagram; and,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentar diagram of the signal board.

In the exemplary embodiment according to the invention a gas-tight chamber I0 is provided with a cross partition l2 to provide a plurality of interior chambers l4 and Hi. The gas-tight chamber i0 is provided with a cover l8 which is mounted in gas-tight relation to the casing by means of a gasket 20. An energy storing device such as a battery 22 is mounted within the chamber M and has one terminal 24 connected to ground by a suitable conductor 26.

A platform 36 is mounted adjacent one end of the casing It by means of brackets 32. A test cylinder 34 is mounted on the platform by means of suitable brackets 36 and 38. The cylinder 34 is provided with end closures 40 and 42, with the closure 40 being secured in gas-tight relation to the end of the cylinder. The piston 44 is reciprocally mounted in the cylinder 34 and has attached thereto a piston rod 46 which extends through the rear end 42 of the cylinder 34. The end 42 is provided with a seat 59 and the piston rod 46 is providedwith a stop 52. The seat 50 and the stop 52 are in contact when the piston is at one end of its stroke so that the piston is firmly and securely mounted Within the cylinder at the end of the stroke. An intake valve 54 and an outlet valve 5t are mounted in the end 40 of the cylinder 34.

A driving arrangement for the testing device comprises'a motor mounted in the chamber l 6 of the casing Ill. The motor 60 being provided with a pinion 62 meshing with a gear '64 which is fixed on a drive shaft 66. Thedrive shaft 65 extends through the end of the closure I0 and is provided with a gas-tight gland 68 which is held in gas-tight relation by means of a nut 10. The drive shaft 66 is mounted in a bearing 12 of a bracket 14 m'ount'edin the chamber It also bearings 16 and 78 mounted on brackets 80 and 82 mounted on the platform 30. A motor thus connected in driving relation so that the shaft 66 is rotated when the motor 'Bll is energized.

A worm 84'is mounted on the shaft 66 and the worm gear 86 mounted on a transverse shaft 88 a sector' gear 90. The transverse shaft 88 being mounted in bearings 92 and 94 supported on brackets 96 and 98. The sector gear 90 ordinarily connects racks I and I02 made in rack bar I04. Rack bar I04 being firmly connected to the piston rod 46 by means of suitable fasteners such as rivets I06. The rack bar I04 has the lower edge thereof slidably mounted in a rack guide I08 which is suitably mounted on the platform 30.

The sector gear when rotated will engage first the rack I00 and push the pistons 44 toward the end 40 of the cylinder 30 and expel all of the gases within the cylinder through the valve 56. The sector gear 90 will then contact the rack I02 and retract the pistons 44 to draw gases in through the intake valve 54. The valve 56 is controlled by a cam IIO mounted on a cam shaft II2 which is carried in bearings H4 and I I mounted on brackets H0 and I20 mounted on the platform 30. The worm I22 is mounted on the drive shaft 66 and a Worm gear I24 mounted on the shaft H2 is in mesh with the worm I22.

The cylinder 34 has an ignition device, such as a spark plug I30 mounted therein. The cylinder 34 is provided with an outlet port I32, and an auxiliary cylinder I34 is mounted on the exterior of the cylinder 34 and in communication with the outlet port I32. The auxiliary cylinder I34 is provided with a piston I36 having a square piston rod I38. The auxiliary cylinder I34 is mounted in a control box I40 which is secured in substantially gas-tight relation to the exterior of the cylinder 34 and extending laterally therefrom. A butterfly shaft I42 is mounted transversely of the box I40 in suitable bearings I44 and I46. A gear I48 is rigidly mounted on the butterfly rod I42 and the rack bar I50 on the end of the square shaft I38 is provided with a rack I52 which engages the gear I40. A butterfly element I54 is rigidly mounted on butterfly shaft I42 and carries a pair of switches I56 and I58. A magnet I60 is mounted on the end of the chamber I40 and cooperates with an armature I62 on the butterfly I54 and biases the butterfly into a predetermined position.

A control system for the motor 60 includes a conductor I64 connected to the terminal I66 of the battery 22 and extending from the chamber I4 to the chamber I6 by an insulated bolt H50. A conductor I extends through a gastight conduit I12 from chamber I6 into the chamber I40. A conductor I10 in the chamber I40 is connected to both the mercury switches I56 and I58. The switches I56 and I58 being mounted perpendicular in relation to each other and in perpendicular relation to the shaft I42. When the magnet I60 and the armature I62 are normally biasing the butterfly into normal position, the switch I58 will connect conductor I10 to conductor I14 which returns through the conduit I12 into the chamber I6 where it is connected to a timing device I16, herein shown as a clock. The clock having a switch (not shown) which periodically connects the conductor I14 to the conductor I80 one branch of which, I82 connects in the motor 60 and the other branch I84 connects to the low voltage terminal I86 of an induction device I88. The ground terminal of the induction device I88 is connected to a conductor I90 which extends to a breaker I92. The breaker I92 is driven by a worm gear I94 which meshes with a worm I96 on the drive shaft 66.

; A mercury switch I56 on the butterfly I54 has 4 a terminal connected to a conductor I98 returning to a signal device such as an alarm 200.

Preferably the signals 200 from each of the sparking devices are assembled together on a board 202, this can be mounted in suitable place such as a supervisors ofice. A high voltage potential of the induction device I88 is connected to a conductor 204 which passes through the conduit I12 into the chamber I 40 where it is connected to the spark plug I30.

In the operation of the devices the worm gears 86, I44, I94 are so related that in the operation all of the devices are synchronized. Assuming that the butterfly is in the position shown in Figure 4 with the magnet biasing the butterfly into a so-called normal position, the clock will after a predetermined interval energize the motor 60 which will drive the drive shaft 66 which will simultaneously drive the worms 64 and I22 and I96. The worm 84 will drive the worm gear 06 which will drive the sector gear to contact the rack I00 to move the piston 44 to the end 40 of the cylinder 34. Simultaneously the worm I22 will actuate the worm gear I44 so that the cam IIO will open the outlet 56 so that any gases or anything else in the cylinder 34 will be expelled therefrom. At the end of the scavenging stroke the cam IIO will release the valve 56, the sector gear 90 will contact the rack I02 so that the piston 44 will be jammed so that the seat 50 will receive the stop 52 and any gases accumulated near the cylinder will be drawn in through the intake valve 54 which is preferably mounted at the extreme top of the cylinder and if necessary may be provided with any suitable extension into the place where gases are expected to be accumulated. Cam IIO will remain in position so that the valve 56 is closed when the piston is in position so that the stop 52 is on the seat 50. Simultaneously the worm I96 will attend the worm gear I94 so the breaker I92 energizes the induction coil I88 the output of which will be carried over the conductor 204 to the spark plug I30 so that any combustionable mixture in the cylinder 34 will be exploded. The explosion of the explosive mixture within the cylinder 34 will produce an increase in pressure therein which will oscillate the piston I36 in the auxiliary cylinder I34 and cause the rack I52 to rotate the gear I48 so that the switch I58 will be open and the switch I12 will either be filled with material or have theends so fixed that no gas can pass through the conduit I 12. Preferably the conductor I98 will also be mounted in a conduit or other protector which will be connected into the conduit I12 in any suitable gas-tight manner.

It will'thus be seen that the present invention provides an automatic gas testing equipment which can be installed in any or'various places in the mine and will periodically test the gases therein and in the event there is an accumulation of dangerous gases will not only shut the sparks off to prevent any activation of the gasesthereabout but will give a signal so that suitable provisions can be made for eliminating the gassy,

condition.

For purpose of exempliflcation a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, and described according ot the best understanding thereof, however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A mine gas detector comprising a gas receiving cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, intake and outlet valves in said cylinder, a battery, a motor, circuit means including clock means periodically connecting said motor to said battery, a drive shaft driven by said motor, a substantially gas tight casing enclosing said battery and said motor, said drive shaft extending through said casing, a substantially gas tight gland sealing said shaft to said casing, a first worm on said drive shaft, a piston rod on said piston, a rack bar secured on said piston rod, a guide track, said rack bar slidably received in said guide track, a first worm gear contacting said first worm, a transverse shaft driven by said first worm gear, a sector gear on said transverse shaft, said sector gear engaging said rack bar, a second worm on said shaft, a second worm gear meshing with said second worm, a cam shaft driven by said second worm gear, a cam on said cam shaft, said cam controlling said outlet valve, an ignition device in said cylinder, an ignition circuit connecting said battery to said ignition device, said ignition circuit including an induction device and a breaker, a third worm on said shaft, a third worm gear meshing with said third worm and being operatively connected to said breaker, a seat in said cylinder, a stop connected to said piston, said worm gears being so related that said breaker energizes said ignition device while said stop is in contact with said seat and said outlet valve is in closed position, a port in said cylinder, an auxiliary cylinder communicating with said port, a butterfly, a gear on said butterfly, a pair of mercury switches on said butterfly, said switches being perpendicular to each other and to the axis of the butterfly, a rack engaging said gear, a control piston in said auxiliary cylinder, said control piston being responsive to an explosion in said cylinder to propel said rack to rotate said butterfly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one 6 of said mercury switches is connected in said circuit including said clock means where said mercury switch controls the energization of said clock means, the other of said mercury switches being connected in controlling relation with an auxiliary circuit.

3. A mine gas detector comprising a substantially closed cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder, inlet and outlet valves in one end of said cylinder, a piston rod secured to said piston and extending from the other end of said cylinder, a seat on said cylinder, said seat surrounding said piston rod, a stop on said piston rod adapted to contact said seat, a battery, an electric motor energized from said battery, gearing interposed between said motor and said piston rod for reciprocating said piston, an ignition device in said cylinder, an induction device, circuit means including said induction device connecting said battery to said ignition device, breaker means driven by said motor for energizing said ignition device only while said stop is in contact with said seat, a port in said cylinder, an auxiliary cylinder communicating with said port, an auxiliary piston slidable in said auxiliary cylinder, a piston rod on said auxiliary piston, a switch support journaled adjacent said auxiliary cylinder, a gear secured to said support, a rack secured on said piston rod, said rack being in driving engagement with said gear, a pair of tilt type switches mounted on said support, said switches being arranged perpendicular to each other and to the axis of rotation of said support.

JAMES W. GRAY. THOMAS F. JOHNSON.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 261,384 Richardson July 18, 1882 977,947 Grobs Dec. 6, 1910 1,088,611 Neubauer Feb. 24, 1914 1,107,232 Nichols et al Aug. 11, 1914 1,150,505 Diehl et a1 Aug. 17, 1915 1,703,497 Noah Feb. 26, 1929 1,977,481 Jones Oct. 16, 1934 2,125,370 Ferguson Aug. 2, 1938 2,170,056 Keinath et al Aug. 22, 1939 2,219,391 Jacobson Oct. 29, 1940 2,337,330 Zulin Dec. 21, 1943 

